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“Started without us, I see,” Marcus observed, fighting to keep his voice steady despite the crimson glow he knew was overtaking his eyes.

Caleb grinned, unrepentant. “Just warming him up for you.”

Kai’s eyes, those extraordinary hazel eyes now flecked with gold that seemed to brighten with his arousal, met Marcus’ with unmistakable challenge. “Well,” he said, his voice deliciously husky, “are you going to stand there all day, or are you going to join us?”

That was all the invitation Marcus needed. He crossed the room in three long strides, Derek close behind him. Caleb moved aside, making room for them on the bed, though his hand remained possessively on Kai’s hip.

Derek was on Kai immediately, his mouth claiming their mate’s with a hunger that had Marcus’ wolf growling in impatience. The sight of Derek’s larger frame covering Kai’s smaller one, the contrast of his brother’s tanned skin against Kai’s paler tone, had Marcus’ control slipping dangerously.

Through their bond, he could feel Derek’s triumph as Kai melted beneath him, responding with equal fervor to his demanding kiss. Derek’s hands were everywhere—tangling in Kai’s hair, tracing the curves of his chest, sliding down to grip his hip with possessive intensity.

When Derek finally pulled back, Kai’s lips were swollen from his attentions, his chest rising and falling rapidly with each breath. The gold in his eyes had brightened further, tiny flecks of light that seemed to dance in his irises.

“My turn,” Marcus rumbled, unable to wait any longer.

Derek moved aside reluctantly, and Marcus took his place, lowering his mouth to Kai’s with barely controlled hunger. Where Derekwas all passion and force, Marcus poured every ounce of his control into the kiss, exploring Kai’s mouth with deliberate thoroughness that had their mate arching beneath him.

Kai tasted like sunshine and spice, a combination that was uniquely his and utterly addictive. His smaller hands clutched at Marcus’ shoulders, nails digging in slightly as Marcus deepened the kiss, claiming every inch of his mouth.

The heat of Kai’s skin was incredible—hotter than a normal human’s, hotter even than a wolf’s. His dragon heritage made him burn like a flame beneath Marcus’ hands, and the wolf in him wanted nothing more than to be consumed by that fire.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Marcus rested his forehead against Kai’s, staring into those gold-flecked eyes that had captivated him from the first moment.

“You’ve made a decision,” Marcus said, not a question but a statement as he looked down at their mate.

Kai nodded, no trace of hesitation in his expression. “I want this. I want you—all of you.”

“The claiming ritual should be done properly,” Marcus said, though his body was already responding to Kai’s proximity, to the scent of his arousal. “In the sacred chamber, with the full moon.”

“Which is tonight,” Derek pointed out, his voice rough with need. “We can wait until then.”

Kai made a sound of frustration. “We have dinner with the Rivera Pack. You expect me to sit through that knowing what’s coming after?”

“Consider it foreplay,” Caleb suggested with a wicked grin, earning a glare from Kai that held no real heat.

Marcus leaned down, unable to resist tasting those kiss-swollen lips one more time. Kai melted into the kiss, his arms winding around Marcus’ neck, pulling him closer. When they brokeapart, both breathing heavily, Marcus rested his forehead against Kai’s.

“Tonight,” he promised. “After dinner. We’ll claim you properly, little mate.”

“I’m holding you to that,” Kai replied, his eyes now definitely glowing gold, bright enough to cast tiny shadows on his cheekbones. “And if one more pack member asks me about my ‘future court,’ I’m setting something on fire, and it won’t be an accident this time.”

Derek laughed, the sound surprisingly light. “We’ll run interference,” he promised, bending to steal his own kiss from Kai. “Just make it through dinner.”

“And then,” Caleb added, his hand sliding teasingly down Kai’s chest, “we’ll have all night to make you ours.”

The shiver that ran through Kai’s body was visible, his pupils dilating further. “You better be worth the wait,” he said, though the effect was somewhat ruined by his breathlessness.

“Oh, we will be,” Marcus promised, his wolf howling in anticipation. “We will be.”

Marcus was adjusting his tie for the Rivera dinner when the text came through. The message itself seemed innocent enough—Kai mentioning something about overheating and dragon energy in the sauna—but the timing…

He’s up to something, Derek’s thought came through their pack bond, sharp with suspicion.

Obviously, Caleb agreed, already moving.But did you expect anything less after we left him like that?

Marcus’ wolf growled at the memory of Kai’s flushed skin, kiss-swollen lips, the way their mate had arched beneath them before they’d forced themselves to stop. The marks they’d left on hisneck had been darkening beautifully, a preview of what was to come after dinner.

Focus, he commanded through the bond, though his own control felt paper-thin.If he’s actually having issues with his dragon blood…